Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm has broken her silence after five days of absence, revealing she was hospitalised for a night due to chronic migraines. Her statement came amid ongoing scrutiny over issues within her portfolio, including concerns about the welfare of children in state care.

Ms Camm, who represents the Whitsunday electorate, was expected to appear alongside Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie at an infrastructure event on Wednesday. However, questions arose regarding her earlier absence from a media conference. In a video posted on social media, she apologised to constituents and described her condition, stressing that chronic migraines are more debilitating than commonly understood.

Ministerial colleague Sam O’Connor said he was not aware of Ms Camm taking leave and last saw her at a cabinet meeting on Monday.

This development follows several days during which Premier David Crisafulli and other senior ministers defended Ms Camm amid reports that some children in care were sleeping in government offices. Since those reports emerged on Saturday, Ms Camm has not faced the media.

The Child Safety Department has also passed Ms Camm’s self-imposed deadline for releasing critical child safety data. This delay occurs amid efforts to resolve ongoing issues with the department’s troubled Unify information technology system.

Further complicating the situation, whistleblowers have raised concerns regarding a decline in Indigenous-recognised resicare providers available to place First Nations children, following recent government reforms. According to providers, some young Indigenous children have been removed from their care due to contract changes, resulting in placements in homes lacking cultural connections.

Indigenous-recognised providers and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations play a key role in employing First Nations youth workers and maintaining children’s links to their families and Country. First Nations children account for nearly half of those in out-of-home state care.

One provider, who requested anonymity citing fear of retribution, said they had sought assurances that two Indigenous children would be supported by First Nations staff, only to be told no Aboriginal workers were available. Instead, they were informed a Polynesian youth worker with experience caring for First Nations children was assigned. The provider criticised the implementation of reforms, stating that policy changes are taking precedence over individualized assessments of children’s needs and best interests.

Debbie Kilroy, founder of Sisters Inside, warned that these issues could impact hundreds of children. She said funding cuts to Aboriginal-controlled organisations have led to children being moved to mainstream services, describing this as discriminatory and racist.

A spokesperson for the Child Safety Department declined to provide figures on the number of Indigenous-led resicare providers currently funded. The unfolding situation highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring appropriate care and cultural support for vulnerable First Nations children in the state system.